Developing GBA Perspective for High-quality Development Integration

The high demand for new housing in Hong Kong underlines the importance of High Quality Development. High quality development covers a spectrum of construction technologies, Modular Construction Method (MiC) is one of them. Compared to traditional construction methods, modern construction methods are faster and more efficient, and more importantly, they can provide quality housing.

The CIC is committed to assisting local industry stakeholders in integrating into the development of the country and the Greater Bay Area (GBA), promoting the exchange of talents and technology with other cities in the GBA, accelerating adoption of digitization and smart construction for the local industry, and transforming Hong Kong into the core engine of smart construction in the GBA, bringing new impetus to Hong Kong's development. Last month, I travelled to other GBA cities with CIC colleagues for two fruitful trips. The visits of leading construction companies in the GBA, such as Guangzhou Municipal Construction Group and China Road & Bridge International Co., Ltd. were eye-opening and the team has learnt a lot.

Understanding the Supply Chain, Technology and Talent Pool in the Greater Bay Area

Last month, I visited Guangzhou Municipal Construction Group  (GMC) with the CIC team. We had in-depth discussions with the Group’s Chairman, Mr. Liang Huqing, and its President, Mr. Zhang Yujiang. GMC is a state-owned enterprise and in 2021 became the first Fortune Global 500 company in the GBA construction industry. The Group’s masterwork, Pazhou International Convention and Exhibition Center, is one of the largest exhibition halls in the world. GMC's projects are throughout the whole country, with extensive use of MiC. It owns a huge and technologically advanced prefabricated building factory with complete and efficient production lines. The Group has its own training base and has trained over 50,000 construction workers in the past three years.

The CIC and GMC have explored the possibility of closer cooperation in innovative digital technology, advanced construction methods and building safety, including talent and designated worker training, co-building talent pools, and enhancing MiC’s application, technology development and standard setting.

I am eager to visit the Mainland together with our industry practitioners and students to deepen our understanding of our country’s development. At the same time, building partnerships in the GBA, expanding our business and networks, and sharing our innovative technologies and ideas. I believe that many of us share the same view. Please stay tuned for upcoming GBA-related activities to be launched soon.

Bernadette Linn, Secretary for Development, Stressed the Importance of MiC Supply Chain Optimisation

Last month, at the "CIC See What I see " seminar, Bernadette Linn, Secretary for Development, shared on the topic "The Future of Construction : Creating Impetus for Development of Hong Kong". Linn mentioned that the Development Bureau had previously signed cooperation agreements with three Guangdong Free Trade Zones including Qianhai Area of Shenzhen, Hengqin Area of Zhuhai and Nansha Area of Guangzhou, to deepen cooperation between Hong Kong and the Mainland's construction and  engineering industries. She also pointed out the importance of optimizing the supply chain in the MiC ecosystem. The Government will establish production and storage sites in the Northern Metropolis to facilitate cooperation between the industry and partners in the GBA.

The event also specially arranged alumni of the Hong Kong Institute of Construction (HKIC)’s Master Classes and Advanced Diploma Programmes to participate in the seminar session, sharing their achievements in applying technologies such as artificial intelligence, design for safety in construction, temporary works management, and building information modelling (BIM) in their work, to keep attendees abreast of the latest trends in the industry.

Join Hands with GBA Peers to Generate New Business Opportunities

CIC's Major Work Plan this year includes many initiatives related to the GBA, such as establishing the "Construction Industry Council Guangdong Representative Office". The CIC will organize GBA-related activities quarterly, including visits to industry peers, technical tours, business workshops, seminars, business information exchange events and business matchmaking meetings. At the same time, the CIC is actively building the "CIC Greater Bay Area Construction Development Platform" to enable local construction industry stakeholders to establish business contacts with talents, technology firms, and vendors in the GBA supply chains for mutual benefits.

Nurturing National Identity of Young Builders in the Construction Industry

Building on the success of last year’s "Course on National Affairs for Construction Young Persons", the CIC will continue to offer national affairs classes in 2023 to promote the sense of belonging to the country among practitioners in the construction industry. In addition, the HKIC cultivates positive values and attitudes in students through various moral and civic education teaching activities. The HKIC will again collaborate with the Hong Kong Army Cadets Association to offer students with lectures on " National Flag, NationalEmblem, and National Anthem of the People’s Republic of China" to study about the history of the National Flag, National Anthem, and National Emblem as well as related video viewings, visits to exhibitions and other activities. The HKIC will also organize students to join the "HKIC Flag-raising Team" and arrange systematic trainings on flag-raising skills and marching for team members.

Communicate with Representatives of Professional Bodies to Benefit Industry Development

Last month at the CIC Headquarters, we welcomed Dr. Janet YOUNG, the Director General of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) in the UK, and Mr. WAN Kai Hong, ICE’s Regional Director. CIC and ICE Representatives also exchanged views on construction industry matters.

Maintaining dialogue with major stakeholders is one of  CIC’s duties. The CIC regularly meets with representatives from various sectors to discuss issues such as industry development, manpower needs, nurturing young talents, innovation and technology development. By gathering opinions from professional organizations and industry associations, the CIC promotes collaboration among industry stakeholders and unites different sectors for the advancement of the construction industry.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. After the resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland, industry practitioners should take the opportunity to visit mainland cities in the GBA to understand the current status of our country, to enhance our understanding of MiC and its ecosystem, to learn about the technology and production capacity of the construction industry supply chains in the GBA.  These preparations shall help our business expansion and seize new opportunities after the pandemic.